BRYANT FOOTBALL COLLIDES WITH ALBANY SATURDAY 1 P.M. AT BULLDOG STADIUM

October, 27 2010

BRYANT FOOTBALL COLLIDES WITH ALBANY SATURDAY 1P.M. AT BULLDOG STADIUM
BULLDOGS LOOK FOR FIFTH-STRAIGHT HOME-WIN ON PARENTS & FAMILY WEEKEND

Game Notes / Audio / Video / Live Stats

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After falling to Monmouth University, 21-12, in Week 6 and having a bye in Week 7, the Bryant University football team (4-3, 1-3) will look to stay perfect at home this season against the University at Albany (3-4, 1-3) Saturday at 1p.m.

Both programs enter the contest 1-3 in conference play and are currently tied for the sixth spot in the NEC standings. The Bulldogs dropped to 0-3 on the road this season with the loss at Monmouth, but will be searching for their fifth-straight home win for the first time since the 2007 season.

Saturday's game marks just the second meeting between Bryant and Albany, with the Great Danes holding a 1-0 series lead after defeating the Black and Gold, 20-17, in Albany, N.Y. on October 17, 2009.

Albany enters today's game after a devastating Week 7 overtime loss to Northeast Conference frontrunner Central Connecticut, 27-30. Placekicker Joe Izzo connected on a game-winning 32-yard field goal in overtime, his third of the game, as Central Connecticut rallied for a 30-27 victory over Albany on Friday, Oct. 22 at

Bryant head coach Marty Fine, now in his seventh season, enters Saturday's game with a 43-27 (.614) record since arriving at Bryant in 2004. He has led the Bulldogs to four winning seasons, including an impressive 7-4 campaign in 2008, Bryant's first at the Division I level. Fine led the Bulldogs to back-to-back NE-10 conference championships and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 2006 and 2007.

Albany head coach Bob Ford is in his 38th season with the Great Danes and is the program's only head coach since the sport was reinstated after a 46-year absence. Since then, Ford has compiled a varsity record of 232-147, while his Albany teams own a 74-47 mark (.612 winning percentage) as a Division I FCS program.

The Great Danes posted a 7-4 record and finished second in the Northeast Conference standings last year, a season highlighted by a 20-16 victory over No. 20 Maine, marking the program's first win over a national top-20 opponent since the 2006 campaign.

The Bulldogs can be heard on WOON 1240 AM with John McCarthy calling the play-by-play and Pete Royce providing in-game analysis. Fans outside the listening area can hear all the action on www.bryantbulldogs.com and can watch every home game on www.bryantbulldogs.tv. Links for both audio and video can be found on the Bryant Athletics Website.

QUICK HITS

— Bryant is a perfect 4-0 at home this season and has yet to start a season 5-0 in Bulldog Stadium since the 2007 campaign.

— The Bulldogs and the Great Danes both enter today's game 1-3 in Northeast Conference play.

— The Black and Gold are 0-1 against Albany all-time, losing the last head-to-head tilt, 20-17, in 2009.

— Bryant is currently leading the NEC in scoring offense (30.9 ppg), punt return average (26.0 ypr) and kickoff coverage (620 return yards).

— The Black and Gold are 2-0 after a bye week since the 2008 season.

— Sophomore running back Jordan Brown is currently second in rushing in the NEC with 120.6 yards per game and is first overall in all-purpose yards with 184.9 per outing.

— Brown leads the league in scoring per game with 10.3 points per  contest and has a conference-high 12 touchdowns through the first seven games.

— Despite being hurt the last two contests, senior running back Mike Canfora is still third in the NEC with 56 total points in 2010.

— Junior defensive back Samad Wagstaff is currently tied for third in the conference with two interceptions on the season, which he has returned for 76 total yards.

— Quarterback Mike Croce is currently fourth in the league in passer  efficiency with a 130.5 rating that includes 10 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards through the air.

— Freshman return man Jeremy Woodson's 19.9 yards per return ranks him fourth in the conference.

— Senior middle linebacker Jason Riffe is third in the NEC with 11.1 tackles per outing.